I also like getting some feet into the straps before waterstarting. Problem is, I hardly ever fall when there is wind, so most of my rail digs are from flying into a no wind zone, seeing it but what the heck cranking in a hard racer jibe, and the ballgame just stops like now.
I front foot on board to waterstart because the board doesn't drift downwind as I'm trying to get up. With front foot at slog position, maybe 9" behind the mast track, the board stays perpendicular to the wind, using both rails and the fin to resist sliding downwind, giving me the most wind availible to pull my fat ass out of the water ASAP, since my first year of windsurfing was at OceanBeachSF or Waddell.

Speaking of light wind water starts, when it's really light I'll grab the foot of the sail with my back hand, and the mast, maybe 15 to 20 inches up, with my front hand, and wriggle my way up onto the board.

I have to waterstart on starboard tack with my front foot on the board because of a bad left knee. It takes a beating in marginal start conditions otherwise. If the wind is so light as to have to wiggle on to the board, I will wait for a puff or just body drag back. Schlogging in such light conditions is too tiring.

If the wind can hold the sail up, you can waterstart.
THROW the sail higher than your can reach, then quickly grab the foot of the clew and the foot of the mast base.
Some guys roll the board to windward, putting their back of thighs on the board, so you roll up into a sitting position, bend your good leg, place the foot of it on the board, and stand up with help from both your hands. I suspect that is the AndyBrandt method.

I often ride sub 75 liter boards even when the winds are suitable for 5.5 sail sizing, no choice there. 80% of my falls are from winds too light to plane.
As for the reasons why I DON'T waterstart using backfoot first......
With BFF, the board is slightly pointed downwind, so the fin and the rails are sliding downwind more than if the board was aligned perpendicular to the wind. Sliding downwind is not conducive to catching the most air when waterstarting.
With BFF, you step on to the board at it's narrower and less floaty area, necessitating the need for MORE wind to keep you up once you're on your feet. Slogging downwind decreases your wind. Slogging across the wind adds some.
BFF, can't roll the board onto it's rail. I've never tried this.
With respect to Andy, who teaches BFF, I think he's full of crock..

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